Girl's Dying Wish Denied; Imprisoned Father Not Coming Home

[redqueen]

Source: KETV

A 10-year-old Lincoln girl dying of brain cancer has one wish -- for her father to be at her bedside.

It isn't likely to happen. Her father is in a federal prison in Yankton, S.D.

Vonda Yaeger is pleading with the warden for compassion to grant her daughter's wish.

"She wants her dad. She goes to her room crying because she wants her dad," Yaeger said.

Jason Yaeger was convicted of methamphetamine charges nearly five years ago and is scheduled to be released next year.

Read more: http://www.ketv.com/family/15643474/detail.html



Did anyone watch American Drug War: The Last White Hope?

www.americandrugwar.com

How long are we going to put up with this?



I know this guy was making meth... and that's a much more serious crime than just using drugs... but the fact is that if drugs were dealt with RESPONSIBLY by our government, meth wouldn't be as pervasive a problem as it is.

The "war on drugs" (which is really just a war on the poor and a way to feed the Prison Industrial Compex) is making things WORSE for our country, our children, and our health.



Stop the Drug War - Cops Against the Drug War
http://stopthedrugwar.org/cops_against_the_drug_war

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php?name=Speakers&bio=217

CIA Jet Carrying Four Tons of Cocaine Also Made Trips to Gitmo
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/71783/

[KansDem]

1. This is just so wrong...

My son is 10 and the thought he could be wanting me with him while he dies while I'm in prison on some drug rap sickens me and breaks my heart...:cry:

[seabeyond]

2. oh... what a bitch, what a f*in a**hole. this is wrong. it is so wrong

what is wrong with us, we have so little compassion

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

72. This is hard

How many families were damaged by this guy? we should have compassion for the girl but after she passes (or lord willing gets better) throw the guy back in to finish his term..

[seabeyond]

79. my post was a totally emotional not thought out post, lol

i dont know the case. i dont know the circumstance and the more pragmatic me may not agree with the emotional me. even then i wasnt thinking end sentence, just let him visit. but then i think cost and no way they would do. so more thought.... i dont know. it is sad though.

ultimate responsibility lies with father that allowed this to be

[redqueen]

80. Nobody ever came anywhere close to suggesting otherwise.

I find it strange the bending-over-backwards that's going on to rationalize this crap.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. I did see American Drug War

and it should be required viewing for everybody. Even my 82-year-old mother-in-law, who's never done an illegal drug in her life, was blown away after watching it.

This is so sad for this little girl. What possible harm could come from letting her see her daddy one last time? This is just horrible.

[redqueen]

4. I'm not surprised your mother-in-law was blown away.

SO MANY people don't know the truth of what's going on.

It's literally heartbreaking.

[Noirceuil]

5. Reality Check...

Don't forget that the people this guy was selling poison to are also someone's child. I use to be for drug legalization (or regulation) and thought I was hot shit with my cannabis T-shirt and blue jeans, but after I studied abroad in Amsterdam for a year, I changed my mind. It is not pretty being surrounded by junkies EVERYWHERE, inhaling the second-hand smoke of marijuana mixed with god knows what on a daily basis, or stepping over used needles on the sidewalk.

[redqueen]

7. You are a liar.

You do know there are cameras, right? And they can actually record footage in Amsterdam, and show the world the truth?

:puke:

[Noirceuil]

11. You are clueless...

I lived in Amsterdam for a year, but I think anyone who has been there for a day would know exactly what I'm talking about. Clearly, you have never been to Holland. If I were you I would stop watching propaganda videos and get out and see the world. Your ignorance is quite sad.

[redqueen]

13. Enjoy your stay. (nt)

[Tempest]

16. And you're a liar

You don't know what the charges against him were.

Your ignorance is quite sad

Look in a mirror when you say that.

[hifalutin]

76. I hate to admit it

but my brother worked in Amsterdam for a few months a couple of years back and told us, anything goes there. Hookers, dope, you ask for it, you get it.
He did say it felt surreal to him, sorta like being in the twilight zone.

[MaryCeleste]

17. Depends on when he was there

I saw similar things there years ago, its cleaned up somewhat since

[redqueen]

20. It's an attempt to defend the prohibition that is causing all this mess...

which is sheer idiocy.

I have had enough of it. MORE than enough.

[NashVegas]

41. All My Dutchie Friends

Tell me the biggest users are American tourists and ex-pats. I've been acquainted someone who moved there specifically because he had a heroin problem and could deal with it there, without the threat of arrest.

[redqueen]

48. I have a couple of them too...

and it disgusts me seeing rightwing lies used to rationalize the drug war/prison industrial complex.

Enough... enough.

[Tempest]

14. How do you know he was selling?

There's nothing in the article and I searched the Internet to find out what the actual charges were and found nothing.

You're just making shit up.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

73. Do they give you 5 years for possesion?

[redqueen]

82. Uh... yeah.

People have been given sentences like that for possession. Even for such "dangerous" drugs as marijuana.

*sigh*

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

83. Links...

I was not being sarcastic just asking a question..

BTW: Assuming he was carrying for personal use is as unfounded, at this point, as assuming he was running a lab

[redqueen]

84. My pleasure.

I consider it mandatory to be able to back up one's assertions.


See Table 1 here (meth is a class A drug):
http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/drugs/ny-drugs.htm

Article about one state's draconian sentences:
http://media.www.thechanticleeronline.com/media/storage/paper670/news/2005/04/07/News/State.Enforces.Harsh.Sentences.For.Minor.Drug.Offenders-914914.shtml

Another state's efforts to fill prisons:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4440/is_200412/ai_n16066146

More helpful information about how indefensible these laws are here:
http://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/sentencing/10873res20010615.html

[Tempest]

85. I was making no such assumption

I was using it as an example to make a point.

[yardwork]

18. That's not the point. We're not talking about strewing needles on sidewalks.

We're talking about a non-violent offender locked up for five years and not allowed to visit his dying daughter. What's that got to do with needles?

P.S. I doubt you've ever been in Amsterdam.

[Richard Steele]

22. Enjoy your stay at DU, you blatantly LYING FReepTroll.

You NEVER did any of that. If you had even ever MET
anyone who had, you'd know how silly your lies sound.

[redqueen]

26. What's really sad about all these people so committed to missing the point...

is that they seem to want to defend the prison industrial complex, and the racism inherent in this country's immoral "war on drugs".

Kind of hard for me to fathom that...

It's pretty obvious that my OP is about more than this one tragic situation.

[Richard Steele]

38. True. These lame, foolish, & pathetically INCORRECT folks are so desperate to push their agenda...

....that they race around inserting it into places it doesn't belong,
like a horny chihuahua jamming its penis into a crack on the sidewalk.

Kinda SAD, really.

[redqueen]

39. This site is plauged by IDIOTIC trolls.

Disgusting.

[Tempest]

46. It's getting to the point

Where you have to ignore any poster with less than 1000 posts.

[seabeyond]

25. firstly i believe about amsterdam, i have heard this. secondly, seeing the daughter has nothing

to do with crime, drug or sentence. it is not about compassion for the man, it is for the child who has done nothing. and it would hurt no one to allow the daughter to say good bye to the father.

[Tempest]

30. It is true about Amsterdam, in the poor parts of town

The parts of Amsterdam tourists never see.

The poster is grossly distorting the situation there.

Friends of mine have been there more than a dozen times doing research on the drug and prostitution trade in the Netherlands.

[redqueen]

36. It disgusts me that the distortion is used to rationalize this insane prohibition.

Madness...

[Noirceuil]

44. Why are you...

so hot to turn people into crackheads?

[redqueen]

47. Why are you under the illusion that everyone is as gullible as you are?

[yardwork]

63. Who said anything about crack? You don't know anything about drugs, do you?

[Richard Steele]

67. Why are you under the impression that anyone believes your ludicrous nonsense?

nm

[seabeyond]

61. hidden, where tourists wont see, but there. anyway....

i watched a couple reports on it. a society makes their choice. i can say i have not personally been there so....

i am not a rule follower and never have been, never will be BUT.... i like rules and boundaries. i think they are important. i think that there can be as much problem with a boundryless society as a too bounded society. it is finding the happy middle.....balance

[yardwork]

64. I think that you would find the Netherlands to be a very calm, organized place.

The Netherlands are far, far from a "boundary-less society!" They think that the United States of America is a chaotic land filled with wild behavior, and based on a comparison of the crime statistics between our two countries, they are correct.

[Lance_Boyle]

6. Aside from the dying part, this is no different from any other kid

upset that his/her convicted parent is in prison. If the state imprisoning the man does not allow for furlough, then that's how it is, sick child or not. There are lots of convicts in prison who have kids on the outside facing trauma or death. A child of a prisoner could be facing risky surgery - does that prisoner get furloughed to visit in the hospital? If the appeal to emotion works for this methmaker, then it should work for all other incarcerated people. It is simply not practicable, and it invites unequal treatment.

[redqueen]

8. This isn't about risky surgery. His daughter is dying.

Why are you trying to muddy the waters? What is your goal?

[MiniMe]

10. I hate to say this, but it isn't about the dad, it is about the little girl

The dad is being punished. This is about the little girl wanting to see her father.

[redqueen]

15. And...?

Jayci Yaeger has been allowed three escorted visits with her father, but each trip lasts only a couple of hours and costs the family hundreds of dollars. Requests for longer furloughs have been denied.

(snip)

A representative of the Yankton facility would not respond to specific questions about the situation.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons Web site states its policy -- that furloughs can be allowed for a family crisis and that decision is left to the warden.

"We've asked them numerous times, 'What is an extraordinary circumstance?'" said Vonda Yaeger. "They danced around it. They don't give you a direct answer."

[hifalutin]

77. Yes, the dad is being punished but

his daughter is being punished more, for something beyond her control.
Where's the compassion?

[Lance_Boyle]

21. It's the same scenario.

If you furlough this guy because his daughter is dying, then you have to furlough the guy whose child is having a transplant - that child may die on the table, and when that happens wouldn't you feel bad having denied his dead child the chance to see dad one last time? I don't see where you're coming from with the muddy waters thing - these are strikingly similar scenarios. Child at risk of death, incarcerated parent. It's a perfectly valid issue to raise.

My goal is to show that the logical fallacy of appeal to emotion is NO basis for decision-making in the criminal justice system.

[redqueen]

23. She's not AT RISK she is DYING.

FAIL.

[Lance_Boyle]

24. appeal to emotion, again

Re-take logic 101.

[redqueen]

27. You compare "at risk" to dying of cancer...

and you're lecturing me about logic?

:rofl:

[Lance_Boyle]

31. Rhetoric isn't a sound basis for argumentation, either. n/t

[redqueen]

33. So in your opinion, "at risk" is analogous to "dying of cancer"?

"Rhetoric"... unfrickinreal.

[NashVegas]

54. "The Exception Proves the Rule"

Emotional appeal is used in decision-making in the criminal justice system, every day.

Everytime victims' advocates are allowed to speak, that's emotion in the system. When a victim is allowed to address a parole board, that's an emotional appeal.

When the night court's clerk kicks him under the table - and I've personally seen that first hand - that's an emotional appeal.

The warden has the option to cut the guy a break. I say he should.

[High Plains]

69. Your fallacy is in believing the criminal justice system...

...has anything to do with justice.

This person has been kidnapped by the state and held hostage five years for a non-violent offense in which it has not been shown that anyone was harmed.

And no, we wouldn't want human kindness to interfere with the workings of the criminal justice system, would we?

And we have the gall to wonder how someone could say "God damn America."

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

75. No, you dont..

The reason the rules *should* be left vague is for situations like this:

1) He has served more than 80% of his sentence
2) He has less than one year left
3) His offense, though disgusting, is non violent
4) This girls death is not a 'chance' its a near certainty..

Compassion for the girl is called for here, hell Ill go so far as to say compassion is appropriate for the father. Though personally I would make him serve the rest of his sentence after the end..

If you codify things too tightly to eliminate human sense, compassion, and justice you'll either deny compassion where appropriate or allow compassion where inappropriate..

[Gormy Cuss]

59. Furloughs should in fact be granted for visits to child at risk of death.

Risky surgery should be an automatic cause for furlough consideration. If the child can visit the incarcerated parent right before it, there's no need for a furlough but otherwise yes, furloughs for visitation with young, very sick children should be on the short list of extraordinary circumstances.

It's only impracticable because of the way the system is designed and funded.

[Lance_Boyle]

60. agreed

A huge can of worms gets opened up when this must be decided on a case-by-case basis. Why did prisoner A get furloughed to see his sick child but prisoner B didn't? Lawsuit. Why was prisoner C's child's surgery deemed less worthy of a visit from the incarcerated parent than prisoner D's? Lawsuit. Not to mention that you'd need to pay for a pretty much full-time furlough committee to make the decisions. Hopefully just one, because if it's more than one, you introduce MORE inconsistency, and breed MORE lawsuits over unequal treatment. It's a nasty mess.

[MiniMe]

9. While I feel bad for the kid, I don't disagree with the decision

So Johnny gets out of prison because he had a kid, and Fred stays in prison because he doesn't have any kids? I hope they can arrange some visiting time for hou in a nice place at the jail.

[redqueen]

12. Did you read the article?

"We've never asked them to release him early. Never asked them to change anything. We've asked them to just give him some time to be here," Vonda Yaeger said.

(snip)

The Federal Bureau of Prisons Web site states its policy -- that furloughs can be allowed for a family crisis and that decision is left to the warden.

"We've asked them numerous times, 'What is an extraordinary circumstance?'" said Vonda Yaeger. "They danced around it. They don't give you a direct answer."

[Tempest]

For a so-called "Christian nation"

Jesus would weep at this decision.

[rocktivity]

19. She's ten years old, in a hospice and DYING--that's not extraordinary enough?

She's obviously too sick to travel to see him anymore. Even a 24- to 48-hour release to spend a few hours with her is too much to ask? If money is an object, I'm sure donations would cover the price of an escort.

:headbang:
rocknation

[hifalutin]

78. If this is

not a family crisis, then I don't know what is.

[Tempest]

28. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTIONS?

There's a lot of assumptions being made about the father's crime in the different threads and the only thing the story says is that he was convicted on meth charges.

Where is the evidence he was carrying weapons and violent as one person claims?

Where is the evidence he was making meth as another person claimed?

Where is the evidence he was selling meth as yet another person claimed?

[Squatch]

29. Where is the evidence that led to his conviction of a felony?

I'm sure if you find that evidence, you will find the answers to your questions.

[Tempest]

32. The evidence isn't available, that's the whole point

There's nothing on the Internet I can find about his case.

And yet there's posters who are making all kinds of wild-ass claims about the father.

And why should I be the one to provide evidence for something I didn't say?

[Squatch]

34. It's not on the internet, therefore it must not be true.

:sarcasm:

[redqueen]

37. No substance, just snark?

Do you or do you not agree that people who make assertions should back them up?

[Tempest]

42. What do you expect?

It's so much easier to make wild-ass claims when you don't have to back them up.

[Squatch]

45. I didn't make any "wild-ass claims"

I just wanted to point out that the evidence for which you sorely long would probably require you to get off your ass and actually look for it.

[Tempest]

49. Short of flying to Lincoln, Nebraska, what would you suggest?

I already searched the county and federal court on-line web sites for his case and it's not posted.

What else would you have me do?


And why the fuck should I have to provide evidence for something I DIDN'T say?

[Squatch]

55. Weren't you just ASKING for evidence?

I told you that you'd probably need to do a little more snooping that internet searches to find the evidence you were looking for.

[redqueen]

50. Again - do you or do you not agree that someone who makes an assertion

should back it up?

Yes or no?

[Tempest]

52. You probably won't get a straight answer

Snark is so much easier.

[Squatch]

56. Well, prima facie, it's a monumentally stupid question.

[redqueen]

58. So the answer is obviously no... you don't think people should back up their claims.

"Prima facie"... oooooh check out the big brain on Swatch!

[Tempest]

40. I'm sure the irony of your post completely escapes you

:rofl:

[redqueen]

35. I've only see one poster make the claim.

Trying to find more info now...

Here's another piece, with a pic of the girl.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/20/earlyshow/main3953431.shtml

[Tempest]

43. There's more in the other thread on this story

I count at least three different posters making WAC (wild-ass claims) about the father.

And several others who are agreeing with them.

[redqueen]

51. The ignorance is astounding. (nt)

[ThatsMyBarack]

53. Don't punish this little girl...

...for her dad's crime!

[WinkyDink]

57. I'll see your 2 raisons d'etres, and raise you one: The "WoD" is also to eliminate

potential Democratic voters (the down-trodden).

[MrCoffee]

62. How is it an abuse of discretion not to grant the furlough?

It may be heartless, sure, but it's not an abuse of discretion to deny the furlough request. If a furlough may be granted in extraordinary circumstances, then the warden may agree to the request. He's not required to agree to it.

[redqueen]

66. Who said he was required to?

Who said anything about "abuse of discretion"?

[Booster]

65. For God's sake, let this little girl have her Dad. Jeeeesshhhh.

[otherlander]

68. I declare war

on the drug war!
:grr:

[High Plains]

70. God damn America. n/t

Spoken on behalf of the 500,000 people kidnapped and held hostage by the state because of their choice of substances.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

71. I would let they guy go be by his daughters bed side

but lets not excuse the fact that this man probably destroyed other kids lives! He should not be a mayrter or the object of pity I would (we I ruler of the world) suspend his sentence from now until after his daughter passes away and then make him serve the rest after that..

[roughsatori]

74. A Post from sister-in-law Lori Yaeger

I found this at a blog:

"Cancerous brain tumors have taken over and Jayci Yaeger moved into a Lincoln hospice this week. Her mother can only watch as her daughter slowly disappears. A girl, who just six months ago was vibrant and energetic. Vonda says, "It's really hard to say it, but it's time now and she doesn't need to suffer anymore. She needs to be where she can be peaceful and happy and not in pain."
Jayci isn't ready to go just yet. She's got one more thing to do before she dies, hug her daddy...

Jason Yaeger is set to be released to a Lincoln half way house in August. But doctors don't think Jayci will make it that long.
Jason and his family say they're not asking for Jason to be free or to shorten his sentence. He's even offered to double his prison sentence. {END}

mor: http://dave-lucas.blogspot.com/


I am troubled by the willfully obtuse and agenda driven responses to your OP.

[redqueen]

81. You're too kind... "troubled" is such a gentle word to use.

I'm disgusted, disappointed, sickened, etc.

[roughsatori]

86. I laughed when I typed "troubled."

I laughed at that I was so angry that I had to walk away from the keyboard before typing the restrained "troubled". If I had posted my original unedited response you would have thought me a mad-man.

The prison-industrial-complex that exists in the USA must be dismantled.

[redqueen]

88. "The prison-industrial-complex that exists in the USA must be dismantled."

AMEN!

And if another Dem president with a Dem congress doesn't do it...

[seabeyond]

87. He's even offered to double his prison sentence

now i am gonna cry....

per the other thread about females crying. good thing i am female and am allowed

this is sad.

really sad

he only has a couple months on the sentence. 4 something

[roughsatori]

89. Very sad.

Great that you can feel and express your compassion. Even the staunchest "law and order" type person must be moved by the dilemma of the daughter, father, and legal system.

[seabeyond]

90. post before i say i am not rule follower, but.... we need boundaries. this

is a perfect example of why i am not a rule follower, though we need the boundaries. to have a rule, impersonal rule in place with ability to factor in the human makes it a horrible place to live and so many in the patriarchal sense have that non moving attitude to following rule. i need flex.